Your Roofing Options
Milton Felton
There are lots of choices in what kind of roofing you want over
your head.
What is it everyone cites as the basic requirement for living?
"I'm just glad to have a roof over my head." Yet the matter is
often taken for granted, with many homeowners paying little or
no attention to the thing overhead that's keep them safe, warm
and dry -- until it starts to leak, that is.
Then they notice.
There are dozens of materials commonly used in roofing, all of
them functional as well as decorative. Indeed, most people
choose their roofing material based on aesthetics or on what
their local homeowners association mandates, rather than on
what will function best.
Clay tiles (which are often made of concrete, not clay) are
known for their durability, often lasting as long as 50 years.
They are more expensive, though, which is a deal-breaker for
many homebuilders.
A more basic roofing material is the asphalt shingle. They're
not particularly attractive, but they do the job. They are
particularly good in areas without much rainfall, such as the
Southwestern U.S.
Also good in those areas are wood shake roofs, made of many
individual pieces of wood that are affixed to the roof. These
don't conduct heat as much as some other materials do, so
summers are more bearable. (In colder areas, you might not want
this kind of roof, as you might want something that WILL trap in
heat.)
When roofing repairs need to be done, unless you have
experience in that area, it's usually best to call in a
professional. Roofing is notoriously backbreaking, arduous
work, bad on the knees, back and shoulders. It's also harder to
do it right than it may appear, and if your intent is to solve
an existing problem, you're better off letting a pro do it and
avoid the risk of making it worse by doing it yourself.
About The Author: Milton Felton writes for
http://www.roofingshack.com , a
website packed with information
on Roofing Shingles and Slate Roofing
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